Week 4: Top Performers
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Week 4 of the New Mexico High School Football season is complete. Here are some of the weekend’s top performers: Tyrell Archie, Crownpoint: Class 3A Crownpoint doesn’t get a lot of attention but they will this week as the Eagles…
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Continue ReadingWeek 4 of the New Mexico High School Football season is complete. Here are some of the weekend’s top performers:
Tyrell Archie, Crownpoint: Class 3A Crownpoint doesn’t get a lot of attention but they will this week as the Eagles improved to 3-1 with a 42-36 victory over Navajo Prep. Archie threw 2 TD passes, including one in the final minutes for the win.
Marcus Armijo Marcus Armijo 5'10" | 160 lbs | QB Socorro | 2023 State NM , Socorro: The Warriors blanked Hope Christian, 41-0, at Wilson Stadium as Armijo threw 3 TD passes and ran for 1 more.
Omar Argott, Hobbs: Argott did it all for the unbeaten Eagles against Lovington as he threw for 253 yards and 3 TD, and ran for 116 yards on 7 carries for 369 total yards.
Aidan Armenta Aidan Armenta 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2023 State NM , La Cueva: Armenta had another impressive outing as he threw for 346 yards and 5 TD, three to Ian Sanchez Ian Sanchez 5'10" | 160 lbs | WR La Cueva | 2023 State NM , as The Bears outlasted Volcano Vista, 38-28, in a hard-fought 6A clash. Sanchez had 13 receptions for 167 yards and 3 TD.
Eli Asay Eli Asay WR Carlsbad | 2023 State NM , Carlsbad: Asay, one of the fastest players in the state, blazed his way to 224 yards rushing and 3 TD on just 10 carries in the Cavemen’s 55-14 victory over Clovis.
Daniel Benham Daniel Benham 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Cibola | 2023 NM , Cibola: Benham isn’t playing QB anymore for the Cougars but he’s catching a lot of passes from Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM . Benham had 8 receptions for 153 yards in the win at Farmington.
Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2024 State NM , West Mesa: Brody capped a very productive night by scoring the game-winning TD in OT as the Mustangs edged Albuquerque High, 27-21. Brody threw for 168 yards and rushed for 123 yards for 291 total yards.
Branden Castillo Branden Castillo 5'9" | 145 lbs | WR Cibola | 2023 State NM , Cibola: Castillo was on the receiving end of 11 of Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM ‘s completions in the win at Farmington, totaling 180 yards and 4 TD.
Nate Chacon, Espanola Valley: The Sundevils have won two games in a row for the first time in years. Chacon threw for 210 yards and 1 TD in a win over West Las Vegas.
Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM , Cibola: Chavez continues to tear apart defenses since returning to New Mexico from Florida. He completed 35-of-47 passes for 484 yards and 5 TD and ran for another in Cibola’s exciting 41-36 win over Farmington. The Cougars improved to 4-0 and have emerged as a legitimate 6A title contender with Chavez, who has thrown 11 TD passes in 3 games, in the pocket.
Marcos Chavez, Santa Rosa: Chavez had one of the top rushing performances of the season as he gained 302 yards and 3 TD on 18 carries in the Lions’ 60-14 win over Tularosa. His longest run was 53 yards. As a team, Santa Rosa rushed for 555 yards on 41 carries.
Paxton Culpepper, Portales: Culpepper led Portales to another win and a 4-0 start as he threw for 214 yards ad rushed for 47 more.
Nye Estrada, Artesia: The Bulldogs demolished Deming, 57-7, in a game called at halftime. Estrada threw for 229 yards and 4 TD on 12-of-15 passing.
Aidan Granado Aidan Granado 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Silver | 2023 State NM , Silver: Granado, one of the most underrated players in the state, and his Silver teammates didn’t let a little adversary stand in their way as they beat 6A Santa Fe, 32-0, at Ivan Head Stadium. Friday night’s game was postponed to Saturday morning due to severe weather. Granado rushed for 145 yards and 1 TD and amassed 207 all-purpose yards in the win. Silver is 4-0.
Trel Griego Trel Griego 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Farmington | 2024 State NM , Farmington: Griego matched Cibola QB Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM TD throw for TD throw until the final minutes of the game. Griego finished with 4 TD passes.
Layton Gillis Layton Gillis 5'8" | 150 lbs | RB Hatch Valley | 2023 State NM , Hatch Valley: The Hatch Valley Hercules brought his ‘A’ game to a Friday night matchup with Anthony, TX as he rushed 35 times for 291 yards and 3 TD. He has 731 yards on 100 carries this season.
Andrew Gustafson, Rio Rancho: The Rams edged Organ Mountain with a solid defensive effort. Gustafson’s Pick-6 was one of 5 interceptions by the Rio Rancho defense.
Mikah Gutierrez Mikah Gutierrez 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Centennial | 2023 State NM , Centennial: Gutierrez isn’t just one of the state’s top running backs, he’s an outstanding kick returner as well. Against city rival Mayfield, Gutierrez and Centennial made short work of the Trojans, leading 28-0 after the first quarter and 42-6 at halftime. Gutierrez rans for two TDs and returned a kickoff for another.
Ricky Henderson Ricky Henderson 6'0" | 175 lbs | RB Valley | 2023 State NM , Valley: Another early season surprise, Valley handled Belen, 42-7, on the road as Henderson scored 3 rushing TDs. Valley is 3-1 under first-year head coach Billy Cobos.
Tomas Herrera Tomas Herrera 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Gadsden | 2023 State NM , Gadsden: Herrera passed for 72 yards and ran for 85 in Gadsden’s 21-12 victory over Clint (TX).
Marcus Leyba, St. Michael’s: Leyba rushed for 101 yards on 17 carries as the Horsemen trounced Los Alamos, 45-0.
Leonardo Lopez, NMMI: NMMI rushed for 221 yards in a hard-fought 13-6 victory over Hagerman. Lopez had 124 yards on 17 carries.
Colt Mangino Colt Mangino 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB La Cueva | 2023 State NM , La Cueva: Mangino had 2 of the Bears’ 3 interceptions along with 13 tackles on Homecoming as the Bears beat Volcano Vista.
Chris Montoya Chris Montoya 5'10" | 195 lbs | DB Rio Rancho | 2023 State NM , Rio Rancho: Sparked the Rams’ solid defensive effort against Organ Mountain with 20 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 sack. Like all great defensive players, he was always around the football.
Elijah Melancon, Eunice: The defending Class 2A champions beat Hot Springs handily as Melancon threw for a season high 427 yds and 7 TD.
Bobby Parraz, Loving: Parraz, a freshman, rushed for 171 yards in Loving’s 36-0 win over Capitan.
Kash Roberts Kash Roberts 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Clovis | 2024 State NM , Clovis: The Wildcats are still adjusting to first-year head coach Andrew McCraw’s flexbone offense. But Roberts had a big night for Clovis against Carlsbad with 134 yards rushing on 18 carries.
Adrian Romero, Raton: 5 receptions for 122 yards and 3 TD in the Tigers’ big win over Tucumcari.
Saul Ruiz Saul Ruiz LB Carlsbad | 2023 State NM , Carlsbad: Ruiz had 17 tackles in Carlsbad’s lopsided win over Clovis.
Kaden Sago Kaden Sago RB Ruidoso | 2023 State NM , Ruidoso: The Warriors beat Robertson, 21-13, in a Class 3A battle as Sago rushed for 150 yards and 2 TD on 17 carries.
Nick Sanchez, Artesia: Sanchez helped the Bulldogs demolish Deming with an 84-yard punt return for a TD.
Ethan Sandoval, Jal: The senior rushed for 201 yards on 16 carries as Jal mercy-ruled Dexter, 50-0.
Ryan Sharpe Ryan Sharpe QB Bloomfield | 2023 State NM , Bloomfield: Sharpe and the Bobcats made the trip to Albuquerque and beat the Albuq. Academy Chargers under the lights, 17-14. Sharpe had 2 TD passes.
Cayden Walton Cayden Walton 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Raton | 2023 State NM , Raton: Walton moved closer o the 6,000-yard career rushing mark with a 254-yard, 4 TD outing against Tucumcari.
Evan Wysong Evan Wysong 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Cleveland | 2023 State NM , Cleveland: Utilizing his speed, Wysong ran for a pair of 40+ yard TDs in the Storm’s 46-3 victory over Las Cruces at Field of Dreams.